Twist-preventer



(No Model.)

N. S. KEY.

TWIST PRBVENTER.

Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS S. KEY, OF \VARRENTON, MISSOURI.

TWlST-PREVENTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,279, dated August 12, '1890.

Application filed February 24, 1890, Serial No. 341,461- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatl, NICHOLAS S. KEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at lVa-rrenton, in the county of lVarren 'and State'of Missouri, have invented a newand useful Twist-Preventer for Binder-Cords, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grain-binders, and more especially to the tensions and take-ups thereof.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the twisting and consequent kinking of. the twine as it comes from the ball and is fed to the needle, and at the same time toimpart the desired tension thereto. This object I accomplish by my improved device, which consists, essentially, of two grooved sheaves over which the twine passes before it is led to the tension, together with certa n details of construction tending to assist in the operation thereof, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig 2 a rear elevation, of my device. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section thereof, and Fig. 4 is an edge view of one of the sheaves.

It is a well-known fact, which experienced operators of binders can attest, that all twinebinders will tangle and knot the twine inthe twine-box, thereby causing it to be broken or the feeding devices clogged. The twisting and kinking of the twine are due to the fact that it is generally led direct from the ball in the twine-box to and through the tension device. As the twine is drawn therethrough, (especially if the tension is considerable,) this device will cause the twist in the strands of the twine to set back and accumulate, and finally a suflicient twist has gathered on the short piece of twine leading from the ball to the tension to cause a kink therein, which eventually twists into a loop and then binds in the tension and breaks the twine. Experience has taught me that the twine cannot be led direct from the ball to the tension, but that some intermediate devices must be used over which the twine must pass, and which must also grasp the twine with sufficient force to prevent its twisting therein in order that this kinking may be avoided, and I have therefore devised the hereinafter-described so-called twist-preventer, which is to be seated on the top of the twine-box, over the opening therein, through which the twine passes, all as Will be clearly understood by persons familiar in the art without a further illustration or description of the other parts of the binder.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter B designates the twine-box having a lid L, provided with a hole H, through which the twine or cord 0 passes from the ball I), as will be obvious. Mounted upon the lid L is a fiat plate F, preferably removably secured thereto by screws f, or otherwise, and this plate carries two uprights U, approximately of the form and proportionate size shown. At one end of the plate is a metal-faced bearing-block V, over which the twine passes, and bearing down upon this is the tension-plate T, all as is common in the art. The rear end of the tension-plate is adjusted by a screw or bolt Ain the manner shown in Fig. 2. Between the uprights is rigidly supported a vertical tube 2?, which stands over and in alignment with the hole H, and through which the twine is first led. At the upper ends of the uprights is a large sheave or pulley S, mounted on journals J, and below this pulley is another and smaller one s, also mounted on journals j. The edges of both these sheaves are provided with V- shaped grooves which grasp the twine tightly to preventits twist-ing therein, and also to gather the threads which may be projecting therefrom. The twine is led from the ball I) through the tube, over and around the large sheave, under and around the small sheave, and then through the tension and to the needle. Acurved plate P is provided which has an eye in one end by which it is pivoted between eyes I at one side of the uprights, and its free end is L-shaped, as shown at Z. This free end is adapted to be engaged by a pin 19 passing through eyes i at the other side of the uprights, whereby when the pin is removed the plate can be turned to the position shown in Fig. 1. From the above description it will be seen that the twine is passed almost completely around two grooved sheaves before it is led to the tension, and the grooves in-these sheaves are of such shape that the twine while therein is prevented from twisting because it is drawn by the tension imparted by the ball into the bottom or narrowest portion of said grooves. In case the twine should break, or when it is necessary to apply a new ball, the plate P is turned up, whereby the top of the upper sheave is exposed to view, and as the twine passes around this sheave it willbe within ready reach of the operator. The edges of the two uprights U are separated throughout, so that access can be had to the twine at any point. What little set-back there is to the tension is destroyed by the groove in the lower sheave, and even if this were not so the leading of the twine in a different direction around the other sheave before it reaches the lower one would eifectually prevent the set-back being carried back 7 to the ball in the box.

Although I have here illustrated the two sheaves of diiferent sizes, still they can be the same or their relative sizes may be reversed, if preferred.

The exact location of the several parts is not essential to the successful operation of the device, although I prefer that illustrated and described.

I claim as the salient points of my invention- 1. The combination, with the twine-box and tension device, of a pair of uprights carried on said box, and a sheave journaled between them and having a V- shaped groove in its edge, the twine passing over and almost completely around said sheave within the groove therein, between the discharge-opening in and an adjustable tension device carried by said plate, of two uprights projecting from the plate, a tube between them registering with the discharge-opening in said lid, and two sheaves having grooved edges around which the twine is passed in reverse directions before it is led to the tension device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the twine-box, a plate removably attached to the lid thereof, and an adjustable tension device carried by said plate, of two independent uprights proj ecting from the plate, a tube between them registering with the discharge-opening in said lid, a large sheave at the top and a small one at the bottom of said uprights journaled on bearings between them, and having grooved edges around which the twine is passed before it is led to the tension, and a curvedplate pivoted at one side of the uprights and having an L-shaped end engaged by a removable pin at the other side thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NICHOLAS S. KEY. Witnesses:

O. E. PEERS, JOHN HILL. 

